Hither Woods Easy/Scenic Route route

There are plenty of options at Hither Woods, including lots of beach and some tough climbs. Starting at the overlook on the north side of the highway, this route includes probably the easiest and most scenic basic trails, and takes you out and back to Napeague Bay, then to Fresh Pond, the bluffs over Napeague Bay and Fort Pond Bay, and an easy-but-long climb back up along Redmond's Path, Rod's Valley Rd, Flaggy Hole Rd, Ram Level Rd, and Split Rock Rd.

This is mostly singletrack, with some doubletrack. It is hilly, but there are few really tough climbs (those are on the east side of the woods, toward the Montauk Landfill and the Lost Boulder). There is often a fair amount of leaf cover on the trail, hiding some roots and rocks. There are a few sandy spots, but not enough to make a fatbike mandatory (although a fatbike will open up those beach riding options, including a ride along Napeague Harbor to Goff Point and Hicks Island, then to Fresh Pond Landing to rejoin this route). The locally-famous Serpent's Back trail is accessible at both ends during this ride, should you feel like having a few more thrills.

I HIGHLY recommend grabbing a few copies of the trail maps that are always well-stocked at the kiosk by the parking lot.

There are portable bathrooms off the easternmost part of this route, in the parking lot by the navy pier in Edward Vincent Ecker, Sr. County Park. You'll need to take a short excursion across the beach to reach the pier and bathrooms.

This is best, in my opinion, as a winter ride. You'll avoid the warm weather ticks, thorns, and traffic. This an especially good choice in the Winter and early Spring freeze/thaw cycles. I have ridden this trail in great shape when trails to the west are muddy and getting rutted from trail-unfriendly riders.

Local Trail Association

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